Give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, his Son.
And now let the weak say, "I am strong!"
Let the poor say, "I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us!"
Give thanks.
We are about to sit down to our Thanksgiving meal...a day early I know, but family members have to work on Thanksgiving day and have traveled far to be with us this year, so we're breakin' out the bird in advance.
There have been no complaints voiced about this timetable as the scent of turkey and stuffing mixes in the air with pie, and a variety of other savory delights.
Soon we will gather around the table and I will look around to see family members all of whom have had their own struggles this year, whether they were with school or relationships, work, health or finances. Struggles that seemed to overwhelm us at times - in some cases struggles that still linger.
And then I will look down at our table...a table overflowing with a feast by anyone's standards.
I will be reminded; this is a common pitfall in our lives.
We find it easy to focus on the struggles while overlooking the bountiful blessings that God has spread out before us.
I will pray we remember this beyond today.
No matter the hardships and honest heartaches, or even the everyday hassles that seem to scream for our attention...we are still surrounded by blessings - constantly. Blessings perhaps symbolized today by a fanciful display of food and finery, but marked everyday by the love of family and friends.
Blessings bestowed freely.
Today we will give thanks....for God.
Maybe we are a little ahead of schedule to say, "Happy Thanksgiving"...then again maybe we are long overdue.
